After the carefree days of summer, I am ready for a much-needed fall reset that goes beyond cozy sweaters and savory recipes. When the temperatures start to dip, my focus tends to shift from hours spent outdoors to hours spent indoors, preparing my home for the upcoming fall and winter months. Today, I did a deep dive into the organization of our home and our lives. Admittedly, this wasn't what I had on my agenda for the day. One task just sort of flowed into the next, like a

In an attempt to make a house feel more inviting, we may focus our attention on the "big picture" - the furniture, the window treatments, and the area rugs. While these are key components and they do work in tandem to create a sense of style and cohesiveness, there is another element to consider when creating that feeling of home...details. From the meals we make to the gifts we give, details enhance our efforts, so they seem more intentional. With that said, curating the det

As a girl, I would occasionally get hand-me-downs from older friends and relatives. These hand-me-downs consisted of clothes that were outgrown long before they were worn out. However, as an adult, I've become part of a new type of hand-me-down. Over the past decade or two, I have been the recipient of countless home decor hand-me-downs. These home decor hand-me-downs usually come into my life because someone is either decluttering or downsizing. Despite going through this p

When my oldest son was in high school, he had a teacher who’d attempt to diffuse the tensions that would erupt during this early morning class. If her efforts to redirect these tired teenagers failed, she would resort to repeating the phrase, “Kind Words”, in a high pitch, almost sing-song manner. Ironically, this strategy worked. Seldom will the rest of us have someone to remind us to choose "kind words". The words we use aren’t merely words. They are a message that can wo

Unless you have young, school-aged children in your life, you may not be aware that this is National Fire Safety Week. While the entire month of October is focused on fire prevention, this year National Fire Safety Week runs from October 4th through the 10th. When our children were in elementary school, this was the week they'd take their field trip to our local fire house. It was also when fire fighters would come into their classrooms to talk about fire safety at home. The

It was during a back-to-school shopping trip when I was first introduced to the wonderful world of… Garanimals. I was only 7 years old at the time, yet the concept behind this brand fascinated me. I left the store that day with my very own Garanimals outfit, just in time to kick off 2nd grade. I still remember that striped top and those green pants, with the wooden button. The genius behind Garanimals was based on their animal-tag system, which provided each piece of clothin

As if on cue, the rich flavors of the season start to emerge long before the first day of fall. Without question, the quintessential flavor of fall is, none other than, pumpkin spice. While pumpkin spice itself is a blend of warming spices, including cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, it doesn't actually contain any pumpkin. Regardless, pumpkin spice is a fan favorite, making its mark on everything from cereal and cocoa to ice cream and, even whipped topping. If you're craving the

In June of 2023, we had a house fire. At the time, my husband and I were in Boston. Our three children were home for the summer. Together, they navigated their way through this terrible ordeal. It took hours to get the fire under control. As the fire fighters worked tirelessly to contain the blaze, my husband and I made our way home from Boston. Fear and anxiety accompanied us on the 7 hour ride. We arrived around 2:00 am the next day. The sun wouldn’t rise for several hours,

Cave exploring in Coopers Rock State Park, WV Officially, Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States, meaning government offices, post offices, banks and schools are closed. Labor Day, which recognizes the contributions of American workers, falls each year on the 1st Monday in September. Unofficially, Labor Day quietly marks the end of summer. For many families, the long Labor Day weekend is an opportunity to squeeze in one more summer adventure. When I was growing u

In 1921, Fred R. Barnard published an ad in the trade journal, Printers' Ink, with the headline "One look is worth a thousand words" as a way to promote advertising on street cars. Six years later, in March of 1927, Barnard changed this phrase ever so slightly for a Royal Baking Powder advertisement featured in, none other than, the Printer’s Ink. However, he falsely claimed the revised version was an ancient Chinese proverb, so people would take it more seriously. Because of

Generally speaking, horns are one of those items I tend to avoid when I go antiquing. These weathered instruments with their dilapidated cases are often found tucked away in the back corner of antique shops. A lifetime of neglect leaves little room for the imagination. Yet, despite my misgivings, we've actually acquired a couple of brass horns along the way. One is an old trombone that belonged to my husband's grandfather, many years ago. After he passed away, my husband inhe

Despite the years, or rather decades, that have passed since I turned 18, I remember it being a significant milestone in my life. Months beforehand, I came up with a list of things I wanted to do as I ushered in this special day. At the top of this list, in the #1 spot, was something nearly every American, from the age of 5 to 105, has experienced at least once in their lifetime, but not me. Up to that point, I had a very rich and fulfilling life, yet somewhere along the wa

Three generations: me, my mom, & my daughter The birth of the roadside attraction began in the late 1920s with the rising popularity of the automobile. However, it was the expansion of highways throughout the U.S. in the 1950s that brought about the family vacation boom. As Americans took to the roads in record numbers, roadside attractions were built to lure tourist to local businesses along the way. Many of the roadside attractions from that era are still scattered across t

Statue of Liberty This past weekend, my family and I visited two iconic American destinations, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. On the 2nd floor of the Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration is a room, which highlights the steps necessary to achieve citizenship in the United States. At one of the interactive displays was a sample citizenship test. The United States citizenship test is designed to evaluate a person’s English proficiency as well as their knowledge o

I received a card in the mail yesterday from a sweet friend. As I pulled the hand written note from its envelope, I was suddenly transported to a time void of social media and texting, a time of personal connections. Growing up, cards were sent to comfort, cheer, and console. At times, they were simply sent to say, "I was thinking of you today." Whatever the occasion, cards were a way to connect with others. Somewhere along the road to progress, we lost that skill. Many years

Stained glass at Washington Memorial Chapel My Mom was rather enterprising as I was growing up. In fact, it was not uncommon for her to learn a new skill only to make it profitable within a few months. From macrame to cross-stitch, my Mom was always engaged in a project and a sale. At one point, she even learned to do stained glass. Once again, she turned her talents into a small business. As her business was gaining traction, my Mom would occasionally drive to NYC to pick u

With intense heatwaves popping up across the country and around the globe, it's clear, the dog days of summer are upon us. Generally speaking, the dog days run between July 3rd and August 11th, kicking off some of the hottest, most humid days of the year. The term "dog days" actually hails from astronomy, not man's best friend. This period of intense heat corresponds with the rising of Sirius, the Dog Star, which is part of the Canis Major constellation. The Dog Star seemed

In the months between 1st and 2nd grade, I moved from Germany to the United States. As the lazy days of summer gradually faded away, I knew it wouldn’t be long before I would be starting a new school year in a new school. This would be my first experience attending school in America. It would also be my first experience with the ritual known as “back to school shopping”. With my grandparents now a mere 10 miles away rather than 3,000 miles away, I had plenty of exposure to th

Curtains are the quiet staples of any room, bringing a look together through color, style and texture. Oftentimes, the price of curtains can make them feel more like a luxury item then a decorating staple. Whenever I want to update my curtains without the designer price tag, I dust off my faithful sewing machine. Here are two easy curtain projects that I've done, which required minimal effort, minimal supplies and minimal talent. The Modified Shower Curtain When my husband an

From castles and canals to sand dunes and mountains, I have explored some of the most incredible locations in the world, which has greatly enriched my life. Yet, I distinctly remember rushing through the lower level of the Frankfurt Airport, many years ago. As my family and I navigated our way from one end of the airport to the other, I was hit by a very distinct scent. The more it wafted through the air, I was finally able to identify this familiar aroma as being none other